Hello everyone, I am new to this forum here.  I have a question for you all.  I am interested in building a custom stock for a rifle of mine from scratch.  I would like to do some checkering and perhaps some engraving on it, and I am curious where I should start with this.  What kind of tools are used to do this, and where can they be obtained.  I am also interested in learning to do some scroll work on metal.  I know both of these take many hours of practice to get any good at, and I am willing to put in this time, but I don't know what tools to use for it.  Thanks for any help,

LI

For gunsmithing tools, Brownell's catalog would be a good start.  

They definitely have checkering tools.  Don't know about engraving, maybe.

Order their catalog.  It's fascinating and full of good reference. information.

www.brownells.com

Have fun.

Lead Injection: Brownells is a fine source of tools. There are also a surprising number that you can build yourself. For checkering I recommend you get, borrow, find at the library etc. a copy of Monty Kennedy's "Checkering and Carving of Gunstocks".  Shows some great work and patterns also several gunsmiths versions of their shop made tools.  If you read this book through you'll learn a lot in short order.  Then practice, practice, practice. Best of the season, BCstocker.

Hi, LI:
 A friend thought she'd try engraving several years back and did a bit of research. She got mixed reviews on the book "The Art of Engraving" by James B. Meek. It's available from Brownells, as well as several others, along with tools and videos.

 She passed on it when she learned that the only full time engraver in Saskatchewan wasn't making a decent living at it, and another baby was on the way.

Bye
Jack